How do I stop my 1 year old dog from peeing out the side of crate during the day when he can hold it at night?

Question

We walk him in the morning and let him out right before leaving for work, but when we come home he his lifted his leg and peed out of the side of the crate onto the floor next to it. We always take him for a good long walk right when we get home too, but alas nothing seems to work. He is 1 and can hold it for the time we are gone. How do we break him of this bad habit?

Answer 1

First: how long are you away? Just because your dog can hold his urine for 8-10 hrs during the night doesn't mean he can hold it as long during the day. YOU probably don't get up to use the bathroom during the night, but how many times do you need to go during the day? Same principal.

Does puppy have water in his crate? Of course.
[he'd better] During daylight he drinks more than he does at night - so puppy probably is trying his best to cope with his increased fluid intake vs lack of access to his back yard.

You don't mention if you got the dog as a puppy or if he was older. If you started him out in the crate as a puppy, have you increased the size of his crate in proportion to his size?
If you got him as an older dog, did his previous owner stay home with him all day? He sounds very upset at being left home alone for a long period of time.

Try putting some of your old clothes in the crate, (never shoes or slippers) and keep a radio or TV on to keep puppy happy. Try giving him a large stuffed animal-but always remove the eyes first as most dogs will chew out the eyes as soon as they can. Cut them out then sew up the holes with waxed dental floss (which also can be used to sew up lots of other things) Mine always have their favorite stuffed toys which I can't get away from them awake or asleep. One uses his big white bear as a pillow :)

Use the weekends and holidays to train puppy to use the crate during the daytime hours.

Can you arrange to let him out during the day?
Did the vet check him for a urinary problem?
You can also try recording your voice to play back or try calling home and leaving the answering machine near the cage so puppy can hear your voice and feel more secure. I've even known people who set things up to let them talk to their dogs while they're away. I think Radio Shack or some other gizmo company can help set this up.

here's some extra free advice:
If you are letting your dog out in your yard and don't want brown spots and dog flops all over your yard, start taking your dog to the same small area in your yard every day.
Everytime your dog urinates or has a BM, praise him in a higher pitched happy-voice 'Good go potty!' or any similar phrase . Repeat this phrase once or twice while they finish. Pat your dog and rub them as soon as they go in that spot to reinforce your approval(Try to keep your dog in that spot until they do their business. If the dog doesn't go within a few minutes, take them back in the house, wait five minutes, and try again).
If the dog goes anywhere else , don't praise and don't pat. This way the dog quickly learns you aren't happy,and dogs like happy owners.
In a very short time the dog will immediately head for that chosen spot, do their thing, and then romp back to you. No more having to pick up a whole yard or water all the little spots daily until the grass recovers. Plus, you won't risk yourself or family accidently stepping in dog flops.

NEVER strike your dog! This is not the way to treat any animal - people or human. I've taught my dogs to do everything from wiping their muzzles on towels after they drink (no more wet floors) to rinsing their paws after coming home from a muddy romp - and never laid a hand or raised my voice to one. EVERY dog is a good dog - I've found most supposed 'bad' dogs have either a lazy or uneducated owner - or occasionally a downright mean one.

My unbreakable rule: if your day is too busy to work a dog's ongoing training and needs [ie. performance education for you and your dog, grooming, vet visits, etc., skip having a dog.
Living in a crate is not healthy for the dog, and it will drastically shorten its life. He's useless for protection if locked up, and is miserable being unable to interact with his environment.

How about a nice kitty? Cats don't care about being left alone, in fact, they almost insist on it.

Answer 2

Being left in a crate all day without potty breaks is tooooo long! You might think he can hold it, but can YOU hold yours all day? If you hold your urine too long, you can develop an infection - so can your dog. You have probably given him a UTI. Take him to the vet and have it checked out.

Answer 3

Come home on your lunch to let him out if you can so he gets out of the habit of peeing in his crate. Slowly move your lunch hour back so he gradually learns he can still hold it during the day.

If this doesn't work, you may want to get a crate with solid sides or with the ventilation slots too high for him to pee out of. Dogs won't pee where they sleep if they can help it, so this may force him to hold it.

Answer 4

Holding it during the night (sleeping hours) is much different than holding it during the day (wakeful hours) .He may just be not able to hold it all day. Do you ever 'go' while at work? How many of your co-workers don't visit the toilet during the day or before driving home?
Put newspapers or pads around the kennel to make it easier to clean up.

Answer 5

Get a dog trainer. Why is he crated, does he misbehave while you are away? You can try putting puppy pads in his crate for him to pee on instead of the floor.

Answer 6

Lots of good answers here. Another idea, there is a product called a bellyband, sort of a diaper for male dogs. It is available at www.petedge.com and other places.

Answer 7

get him a kennel that doesn't allow him to pee out the side. All dogs have an ingrained instinct that keeps them from lying in their own waste. If he can't pee without laying in it, he won't pee.

Answer 8

could you hold it in all day, why is the dog crated?

Answer 9

talk to ur vet he may have a solution, keep towels where he usually pees so ur carpet doesnt get ruined until u get to the vet.